Wire-stretcher.



W. L. HOLLADAY & R. L. STEWART. WIRE STRETUHER.

APPLICATION TILED SEPT. 9. 1912.

Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

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WITNESSES Q1MNKF- I UNITED STATES BATENT OFFICE.

WALTER L. HOLLADAY AND ROBERT L. STEWART, 0F WILLIAMSVILLE, MISSOURI.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 9, 1912. Serial No. 719,373.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, \VALTER L. HOLLA- DAY and ROBERT L. STEWART, citizens of the United States, residing at VVilliamsville, in the county of Wayne and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to wire stretchers, and the principal object of the invention is to provide an improved type of stretching machine which is so constructed that the claws will successively engage the links of a chain carried by a wire clamp upon rocking the lever.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved type of claw, two of the claws being pivotally connected with the lever and being connected by a pair of links whereby the claws will be caused to move away from and toward each other as the lever is rocked.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a front elevation of the wire stretcher. Fig. 2 is a side elevation with the jaws in one position. Fig. 3 is a side elevation with the jaws moved to the second position. Fig. l is a perspective view of one of the jaws.

This invention comprises a lever 10 having one end portion bound by means of a metallic strip 11 bent about the end of the lever and secured by means of the rivets 12. A link 13 is pivotally mounted upon a pin 14 passing through the end of the lever so that the lever may be pivotally connected with a suitable peg or post to form a pivot for the lever.

Claws 15 and 16 are pivotally connected with the lever above and below the pin 14 upon the pins 17 and 18. Links 19 and 20 are pivotally mounted upon the pins 17 and 18 and are provided with longitudinally extending slots 21 and 22 through which bolts 23 and 24 pass thus slidably connecting the links 19 and 20 with the claws 15 and 16 respectively.

A perspective view of one of the jaws has been shown in Fig. 4 and from an in speetion of this view it will readily be seen that each of the jaws comprises a plate 25 carrying the side arms 26. These side arms 26 are provided with openings 27 adjacent the outer end portions through which the pins 17 or 18 pass. A second opening 28 is formed intermediate the length of one of the arms so that the bolt 23 or 2 1 may be connected with the jaw. An enlarged head 29 is formed at the end of each of the arms 26 and flanges 30 extend inwardly from the heads in spaced relation to form the tapering slots 31 through which the links of the chain connected with the wire clamp are adapted to pass. Pockets 32 are formed intermediate the length of the arms to act as guiding faces for guiding the claw into engagement with the chain.

When using this device, the chain which is connected with the wire clamp will be first engaged by the claw 16, the stretcher being in the position shown in Fig. 3. The lever will then be rocked upon its pivotwhich passes through the link 13, and this will cause the claws to move from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 2, the links 19 and 20 causing the claws to ride past each other, and the enlarged head of the claw 15 riding through the pocket 16 and guiding the claws so that they pass in spaced relation to permit the claw 15 to advance in front of the claw 16 and engage one of the links of the chain ahead of the claw 16. Upon returning the lever to its original position, the claws will be returned to the position shown in Fig. 3, thus drawing the chain and advancing the claw 16 so that it can obtain a new hold upon the chain. This is repeated until the wire is stretched as much as desired. These claws, therefore, each act as a guiding means for each other to cause the claws to ride past each other, and the links also act as a means for guiding the claws and holding them in the proper spaced relation. The binding strip 11 prevents wear upon the lever and also prevents any danger of the strain from tearing the pin 14 of the link 13 out of the lever thus breaking the lever. P

Having thus described the what is claimed as new, is

1. A wire stretcher comprising a lever, a

air of claws pivotally connected with one end of the lever, each claw comprising a pair of side arms pivotally connected with said lever and provided with curved cut out portions intermediate their length forming guiding pockets and having enlarged curved heads at their free ends, a plate connecting said side arms, flanges extending from the ends of said arms between said invention,

Patented Feb. 18,1913.

arms to form a slot between said arms, links i pivotally connected with said claws, each link being pivotally connected with one of 1 said claws and slidably connected with the other of said claws, and brace engaging; means carried by said lever. 2. A wire stretcher comprising a lever, a

pair of claws pivotally connected with said lever and each being provided with side arms having curved guiding pockets intermediate its length and with enlarged heads provided with inwardly extending flanges positioned in spaced relation, links piv0tally connected with said lever and slidably connected with said claws to guide the 15 same, and a link carried by said lever between the pivot points of said claws.

In testimony whereof we hereunto aiiix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

WALTER L. HOLLADAY. ROBERT L. STEWART. Witnesses J. D. BOYD, W. N. OSBORNE.

Copies of this pat ent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

